Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 9: Problem 37

Contrast real images with virtual images in as many ways as you can.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Real images are formed when light rays converge after passing through an optical device, and can be projected onto a screen. They are always inverted and can have either positive or negative magnification. Real images are used in devices like cameras, telescopes, and projectors. Virtual images occur when light rays appear to diverge from a point behind the optical device and cannot be projected. They are generally upright and have positive magnification. Virtual images are essential in devices such as eyeglasses and magnifying glasses.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Real and Virtual Images

Real images are formed when light rays converge after passing through an optical device (like a lens or a mirror), whereas virtual images occur when light rays appear to diverge from a point behind the optical device.
02

Formation of Images

Real images can be projected onto a screen, since the light rays physically converge at a single point. In contrast, virtual images cannot be projected, as they are formed by the apparent divergence of light rays.
03

Appearance of Images

Real images are always inverted, meaning they appear upside-down when compared to the object. Virtual images, on the other hand, are usually upright and have the same orientation as the object being viewed.
04

Lateral Magnification

Lateral magnification is the ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object. In general, real images can have either positive or negative magnification (indicating whether the image is enlarged or diminished), whereas virtual images typically have positive magnification.
05

Optical Devices

Both real and virtual images can be produced by various optical devices such as lenses and mirrors. Convex lenses and concave mirrors produce real images when the object is placed beyond the focal point. Conversely, concave lenses and convex mirrors always form virtual images.
06

Usage in Real-World Applications

Real images are used in many optical devices like cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and projectors, where it is crucial to project the image onto a screen or a sensor. Virtual images are essential in devices such as eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, and some types of telescopes and microscopes where the observer's eye is to be placed close to the instrument.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

If you were lost in the forest and wanted to start a small fire to keep warm or cook a meal using sunlight and a small lens, what type of lens-converging or diverging-would you use and why?

Describe the three principal rays used to locate an image.

What kind of mirror (concave, convex, or plane) do you think dental care workers use to examine patients' teeth and gums for disease? Explain your choice.

The difference in speed between red light and violet light in glass is smaller than the difference in speed between the same two colors in a certain type of plastic. For which material, glass or plastic, would the angular spread of the two colored rays after entering the material obliquely from air be the largest? Why?

If the wavelength of visible light were around \(10 \mathrm{~cm}\) instead of 500 \(\mathrm{nm}\) and we could still see it, what effect would this have on our ability to see diffraction and interference effects?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Radiation

Read Explanation

Space Physics

Read Explanation

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation

Force

Read Explanation

Thermodynamics

Read Explanation

Oscillations

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free